Performance comparison of two sensors based on surface plasmon resonance in a plastic optical fiber

In silica optical fiber Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)-based sensors, an increase in fiber core diameter produces a corresponding increase in the sensitivity and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). In Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) realized in PMMA there are different influences of design parameters on the performance, as both sensitivity and SNR are concerned. In particular, the SNR, for different refractive index values of the analyte, in a 250 μm diameter POF is greater than the one in 1,000 μm diameter POF. On the other hand, the sensitivity, for the same refractive index values of the analyte, in a 1,000 μm diameter POF is greater than the one in a 250 μm diameter POF. The results of an experimental analysis demonstrating the above behavior are reported.